Witnesses say boy hit by train 'couldn't get out of the way'

Wednesday

Three people who witnessed an Amtrak train hit and kill Shawn E. Stone-Garzee Monday night said they have no idea how or why the 13-year-old boy ended up in front of the engine.

Three people who witnessed an Amtrak train hit and kill Shawn E. Stone-Garzee Monday night said they have no idea how or why the 13-year-old boy ended up in front of the engine.

According to Abingdon Police Chief Fred Andrews, the male cousin with Stone-Garzee at the time of the accident said the pair was riding bicycles and towing a non-operating go-cart west across the tracks that intersect Sanitary Road. The rope they were using broke and Stone-Garzee was struck by the train as he attempted to move the go-cart.

“They were already across the tracks and the clothesline they were using broke,” Andrews said. “Shawn’s first instinct was to move back and get the go-cart. His cousin said he tried to grab him, but it was too late.”

Mike Allcon, Rogelio Grant and James Daniel said they were walking west on Sanitary Road toward the tracks and saw the train hit Stone-Garzee.

“We didn’t see a go-cart,” 15-year-old Allcon said. “It looked like they were riding hard to beat the train and then the one boy (Garzee) got off his bike to get something on the tracks.”

Grant, 15, said he didn’t see a go-cart. Daniels, 26, agreed. All three said they didn’t see what Stone-Garzee returned to the tracks to retrieve.

“I was watching the boy (Stone-Garzee),” Daniels said. “The boys crossed the tracks and the one who got hit went back. He was on the tracks and it looked like the sound of the horn stunned him for a second.”

“That train was moving fast. He couldn’t get out of the way. It was a terrible, terrible thing to see.”

Grant said the boy with Garzee immediately left the scene and they assumed he was getting help. A short time later a woman with a cell phone returned. Allcon, Grant and Daniels told her to stay back from the tracks and not look.

“I didn’t know what to do, but I didn’t want her to see it,” Grant said. “I think all of us were in shock. I couldn’t think what to do.”

Andrews confirmed a 911 call was placed at 8:55 p.m. and Abingdon Police officer Don Ryner arrived on the scene four minutes later. The woman who placed the call was later identified as Stone-Garzee’s mother.

Tom Loewy can be reached at tloewy@register-mail.com. Michelle Anstett can be reached at manstett@register-mail.com.

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